International return tickets cost Agri R55m+

During a marathon sitting that commenced last Thursday morning and concluded at 01:30 the next day, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) noted with grave concern that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development had incurred irregular expenditure amounting to over R55 million for a tender for bookings of international return flight tickets in the 2018/19 financial year.
This was revealed when the department appeared before the committee at Parliamentary Village last Thursday. It was learnt that during the audit process it was discovered that the price charged and paid by the department was found to be unreasonable and uneconomical. The department was requested to give evidence to the committee on the said tender but could not produce the documents even at the time the committee adjourned, it was reported.
A statement issued by the Provincial Legislature highlighted that Scopa members strongly reprimanded the executing authority for the failure to take action against officials in the department. The committee noted fruitless and wasteful expenditure by the department amounting to R12 000 during 2017/18 financial year due to non-payment on Eskom electricity reconnection fee, overpayment on expanded public works programme wages and the late renewals of Government Garage vehicles licences. In 2016/17 accruals were at R863 000 as a result of a company that claimed for value added tax (Vat) from the department without being registered as Vat vendors.
It was further reported that the department had obtained unqualified audit opinions in the 2016/17 to 2017/18 financial years due to its alleged failure to take action against wrongdoing.
The department has in the financial year under review incurred unwanted irregular expenditure to the tune of R369 541 as a result of not following proper supply chain management processes.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za